LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 94, 21 April 1922, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF SEASON. AT CARLAW PARK TO-MORROW. The League football season will open to-morrow, when four senior games will be put on, two at Carlaw Park and two on outside grounds. 'Phis year the Richmond Club hae put in a senior team, and the calibre of tihe newcomers should be well tested in their open-ing game, wnieh will be played at Richmond, against the Athletics, wider which new name" the 'Maritime team, runners-up for hist year's championship, now appears. Devompert United have re-formed and will make their initial appearance on their own ground against City. lAit Carla-w Park the attractions will ■be Ponsonby v. Newton and Marisfc Brothers v. Fire Brigade. The showing of the teams in the opening matches is always more or less a. problematic question till the games have been played, but there is every reason for believing that in 'both these games the football will be of good standard. The teams we:— FIRE BRIGADE. Seniors. —Elliott, Warelng, J. Woolley, Healy, Campbell. Elpley. Stewart. O'Connor, Doran, Hogg, McNeill, O'Brien, McKay, Innes, Jones, Brady. DEVONPOBT UNITED. Seniors.—Wheeler, Price. Godick, Anderson, Taylor, C. Webb, Johnson, Douglas, Dos. Bt. George, Wynn, Scott. Calderwood, First Juniors.—Rogers, Seagar, Butland, Miller, Carnahan, Smith, S. Webb, Hand, Boryer, Harper. Sadgrove, O'Brien, Probert. Third Grade.—A. Anderson, Nevill, McKernan. SutclMTe, -Simpson, Thorburn. Bolger, E. Laing. Harden, McEenzle, Honsley, Archer, Lowe, T. O'Brien. Fourth Grade.—M. Jackenn, Matheson, Little, Hales, Williams, A. Bolter, Gussey, Casey, Gerrade, Foster. Lord. .R. Parker, W. Gussey, Kins, James, Tilton, L. Seagar, J. Galloway. CITY ROVER 6. . Seniors.—R. Harley, W. Davidson, M. Wetherall, B. Davidson, H. Lalng. W. Minogue, J. Keenan, F. Wilson, P. Clark, G. Pakl, E. Mackle, C. Mitchell, G. Reid, A. Townsend, W. McDermott, H. Francis, R. Lewis, J. Hadley, S. Crowther. NEWTON RANGERS. Seniors.—F. Gregory, L. O'Donnell, L. Brockliss, P. Nicholson, A. Manslll, J. Biggs, T. Virtue, W. Miller, C. James. W. Somere, C. Poison, A. James, W. Voysey, W. Cloke, J. Sorenson, H. Biggs. ATHLETICS. Senlors.-vSaunders, Grey, Yardley, Littlewood, Higgins, Lunn, Nicholson, Arndt, Lee, Cadman, .Ballantyne, Brlen, Averv, Davidson, Claeke, McGregor. Graham, Church. Hall. Players to meet at Grey Lynn terminus at 2.30 sharp. * RICHMOND. Seniors. —Hanlon. Little, S. McLean, G. McLean, . Campbell, Lovegrove, Hyland, Carroll, Parkes, Cairns, Butler, Davles Redwood. MEETING OF N.Z. COUNCIL. CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE CODE.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby League Council held last eventog in the League Rooms, Swenson Street. Mr. D. W. McLean presiding, the annual report, which was adopted, congratulated the members on the continued success that had been achieved. The steady progress of the 'League code throughout the Dominion, it said, reflected great credit on thoee whose unselfish and devoted labour had done so much to popularise the game In New Zealand. The executive hoped for a continuance of the support hitherto accorded It, which, with the loyal co-oper-ation of players and affiliated leagues, should ensure the even greater progress of the game.

The principal activity of last season was the 'tour of New Zealand representatives through New £onfh Wales and Queensland Tlie primary object of the tour was to eriaMe the Australasian selectors to view the play of the team. The result of the visit could not be termed other than disappointing. It had to be recognised however, that the standard of play 'had advanced CoasMeTably In Australia, and entieavoura must be made to reach the standard set there In the Sner points of the same. B. Laing, <H the 'Ctty Club, Auckland, was the only New Zealander selected to accompany the 'Australasians on the .English trip, and the executive-wished to congratulate Ihlm on Ms selection. Lest season a visit was expected from a Queensland team. The Queensland League expressed regret at its Inability to complete negotiations, and had promised to tonrvNew Zealand this year. The New South Wales League had also made arrangements for a team to visit the Dominion at the end of the coming season, so that thJe year League snpporters could look forward to several eihUMKious of the code at its best. The executive for a long time Tiad lhad in mind the question of obtaining the advice of New South Wales In the matter of furthering the code in New Zealand, and had been negotiating In that connection. New South Wales had entered Into the scheme wflth enthusiasm, and lhad sent a delegation which whs visiting the various Leagne centres of the Dominion to see the position for themselves.

The balance sheet showed that the balance in bank on March 31, 1921, was £768, gross takings match New Zealand v. Auckland £454, gross takings Australian tonr £2713, the total being £39! M. The chief items on the expenditure side were expenses match New Zealand v. Auckland, and cost of sending team to Australia, £2554, loan to Auckland League £700. The total expenditure left a credit of £77.

Although he did not wish to stand again. Mr. D. W. McLean was at length prevailed upon to act as president for another year, several of the members speaking highly of his good services. The full Met of officers Is:—Patron, Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, M.P.. Chrletrhureh: president. Mr. D. W. McLean*, Auckland; vice-presidents. Messrs 3. Oarlaw (Auckland), W. S. Brice (Welllnfrton). J. Vigor Brown. M.P. (Hawfce's Bay), J. D. Wlngham (West Coast), W. Stevens (South Auckland): council of management, Messrs. W. T. Wyiiyard and H. Oakley (Wellington), J. A. Ferguson and A. W. Webster <West Coast). K. Benson (Hawke's Bay). E. Phelan and E. Htallworthy (Auckland), and R. 3. Stirling (Canterbury): se*etary, Mr. W. O. Carlnw; treasurer, Mr. G. G. ■Smith; auditor. Mr. W. F. McLean; honorary medical officer. Dr. L. J. Thompson.

The Wellington League wrote complaining abont the differential treatment meted out to the League game there tooth in the matter of tue number of grounds allotted and the charges for the use of the Basin ißeeerve. The Council decided to write the Wellington City Council asking for an explanation nnd requesting that more grounds be allotted to the same.